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District basketball preview - boys classes 1, 2, & 3
By Joboo | January 31, 2008
CLASS 1
District 3 - Chadwick
- Bakersfield
- Bradleyville
- Chadwick
- Dora
- Hurley
- Lutie
- Niangua
Only 2 real contenders here in Dora & Chadwick. The Cardinals should grab the #1 seed with the Falcons getting the #2. Both teams have put up some big scores this year & both have excellent records. The difference is in Chadwick’s 3 losses. Competitive games with 2 class 4 teams & a class 5 team.
Prediction: This should go pretty much as planned. Chadwick takes it on their home floor over the Falcons.
District 4 - Verona
- Billings
- Everton
- Exeter
- Golden City
- Lockwood
- Thomas Jefferson
- Verona
- Walnut Grove
This should be a race for second place as Garrett Gladden & Everton appear to be the class of this group. Lockwood, Walnut Grove, & home-standing Verona seem to be in the hunt to knock them off. But only Lockwood has been playing well of late.
Prediction: Both Lockwood & Walnut Grove have people to match-up with Gladden, but I just think Everton is too much for this group. Verona takes second.
District 11 - Macks Creek
- Climax Springs
- Dadeville
- Fair Play
- Halfway
- Hermitage
- Humansville
- Macks Creek
- Wheatland
Another 2 team race here. Fair Play will be the 1 seed owning 2 easy wins over 2 seed Hermitage this year.
Prediction: No surprises. Fair Play for a third time over the Hornets.
CLASS 2
District 2 - Van Buren
- Bismarck
- South Iron
- Southern Reynolds
- Summersville
- Valley
- Van Buren
- Viburnum
- Winona
District 2 is all about the South Iron Panthers. #1 in the state, they are fast, they can score, they can defend, & they are the favorite to win state. A punchers chance at best for Van Buren.
Prediction: The Panthers beat Van Buren handily earlier this year on this same court. I don’t see this being any different.
District 9 - Mansfield
- Couch
- Fordland
- Gainesville
- Hartville
- Koshkonong
- Mansfield
- Norwood
- Thayer
The home team Mansfield has the best player in this district in Quentin Berry. Should be a recipe for victory right? Not with Thayer in town. They have a great balanced team & are deserving of their #3 state ranking.
Prediction: The Bobcats over Mansfield.
District 10 - Laquey
- Crocker
- Iberia
- Laquey
- Newburg
- Plato
- Richland
- Stoutland
- Vienna
Almost an all Frisco League district. Laquey is having a very solid year & has beaten every team in the district they’ve played with the exception of Vienna. Vienna & Crocker are the other real contenders.
Prediction: I’ll step out on a limb here and say the Hornets don’t beat Crocker 3 times this year. The Lions over Laquey in the finals.
District 11 - Sparta
- Blue Eye
- Clever
- Crane
- Galena
- Greenwood
- Marionville
- New Covenant Academy
- Sparta
A nicely loaded district here. Blue Eye, Crane, Greenwood, Marionville, & Sparta all are having good years. And state ranked #2 Clever is having a great year. But the Bluejays are still not unbeatable.
Prediction: Clever has shown resiliency & the ability to rise to the occasion. I think this will be a phenomenal final with Clever edging out Sparta.
District 12 - Missouri Southern State University
- College Heights
- Jasper
- Liberal
- McAuley
- Miller
- Purdy
- Sarcoxie
- Wheaton
In a perfect world, McAuley’s Arvie Kilongkilong would play for Koshkonong & Harry Carey would call their games. But we can only dream. McAuley, Liberal, & Miller make this a very tough district to call. Purdy is capable of making some noise also.
Prediction: This one is really up for grabs & should make for some good semis & final. I think Miller takes the top seed. If Purdy can get the 3 seed & avoid meeting Miller in the semis, I’ll take them to finish second. Otherwise it’s McAuley.
District 13 - Osceola
- Adrian
- Appleton City
- Greenfield
- Lakeland
- Morrisville
- Osceola
- Rich Hill
- Weaubleau
Rich Hill & Morrisville are the leading contenders here. Adrian, Appleton City, & Weaubleau can’t be overlooked though. Rich Hill seems to have the top seed at this point, but still has games remaining with Adrian & Appleton City that could change that.
Prediction: I’ll go with the upset. I think Adrian takes down Rich Hill in the semis & goes on to win over Morrisville.
CLASS 3
District 2 - Greenville
- Alton
- Clearwater
- Doniphan
- East Carter
- Greenville
- Malden
- Twin Rivers
- Woodland
Kind of an up for grabs district for Alton to play in. Doniphan is ranked at #10 but doesn’t seem overly impressive. Malden & Twin Rivers are OK, but not exciting.
Prediction: The Comets are most likely getting Doniphan or Malden if they get past the first round. I don’t see that going well for them. Doniphan over Malden in the finals.
District 9 - Linn
- Belle
- Bourbon
- Cuba
- Dixon
- Fatima
- Hermann
- Linn
- Steelville
The Dixon Bulldogs get to head up north to play in the same district with the home-standing Linn Wildcats. Linn is #7 in the latest state rankings & the clear favorite here with Cuba, Fatima, & Hermann chasing.
Prediction: The Bulldogs are most likely a 4 or 5 here. They could win the first rounder, but it ends against Linn. Linn over Fatima in the finals.
District 10 - Cabool
- Cabool
- Conway
- Houston
- Licking
- Mountain Grove
- MV-BT Liberty
- Seymour
- Willow Springs
Cabool & #4 ranked Willow Springs meet next Friday most likely to determine who gets top seed. That will be important because Conway is no pushover. The #1 gets a relatively clear path to the final while #2 has work to do.
Prediction: I like Willow to grab the top seed & then beat Cabool in the finals.
District 11 - Fair Grove
- Ash Grove
- Fair Grove
- Forsyth
- Hollister
- Pleasant Hope
- Spokane
- Catholic
- Strafford
Another fairly clear cut group record wise. Spokane #1, Forsyth #2, then Ash Grove, Hollister, & Strafford in a group. But Forsyth has a few victories over some weak competition.
Prediction: Spokane’s experience carries them to the title with Ash Grove being their finals opponent.
District 12 - Mt. Vernon
- Aurora
- Diamond
- East Newton
- Lamar
- Mt. Vernon
- Pierce City
- Seneca
- Southwest
This should be another great district. East Newton & Mt. Vernon are top-notch. Aurora & Seneca are underrated. Remaining regular season games between Aurora, Mt. Vernon, & Seneca will help set the seeding.
Prediction: I’m dreaming of a Houn Dawg/Mountaineer final. But I think the Indians may spoil the party. Mt. Vernon over Seneca for all the marbles.
District 13 - Versailles
- Cole Camp
- El Dorado Springs
- Eugene
- Osage
- Skyline
- Stockton
- Versailles
- Warsaw
A nicely balanced district to close out our preview. You can make good arguments for Cole Camp, El Dorado, Eugene, & Skyline. Then there’s Versailles who may or may not get all-stater Isaiah Rhine back in time for districts. And these teams come from 2 different areas and have very little in the way of common opponents.
Prediction: Going on gut instinct alone here. I’ll pick Skyline over Eugene. But if Rhine can make it back into the lineup, all bets are off.
Topics: Basketball |